The great win at Huddersfield on Easter Monday came with a price with the injury to winger Mason Caton-Brown adding to Salford’s growing injury list.
Coach Ian Watson switched Josh Jones into the centres and moved Josh Griffin onto the wing. Watson suffered a further setback when Craig Kopczak dropped out just before kick-off with a back spasm.
The Wildcats got off to a flying start taking the lead after less than three minutes when Scott Moore and Liam Finn combined to send Jacob Miller through a gap in the Reds defence. Finn converted for a 6-0 score-line.
In the 6th minute Finn and Danny Kirmond linked up to put Mikey Sio in for a try to double Trinity’s lead. Finn again converted (12-0).
Salford came storming back in the 15th minute when Gareth O’Brien linked up to take a pass from Michael Dobson to glide in for a try. He added the conversion for a 12-6 score-line.
The Reds were gradually asserting themselves after a poor start and drew level in the 34th minute when Matt Sarsfield set off on a determined run to the line bursting through a number of tackles enroute to the line. O’Brien added the kick (12-12).
The Reds though failed to kick-on and it was Wakefield who scored next in the 37th minute when a well-judged kick by Miller was grasped by winger Tom Johnstone to touchdown in the corner. Finn was unable to add the extras (16-12).
Seven minutes into the second-half Trinity extended their lead when a move down their left flank ended with Johnstone sweeping in for his second try. Finn converted for a 22-12 advantage.
Salford then stepped up a gear and a great surging run by Ben Murdoch-Masila should have brought a try but resulted in Michael Dobson being brought down ten yards from the Wakefield line.
Not long after the Reds pressure paid off when Josh Griffin put Justin Carney in for a try after a great run by Junior S’au on the opposite flank. Dobson’s kick left Salford trailing by four points at 22-18 with just under 20 minutes to play.
The Reds should have added to their tally when Niall Evalds scooted down the wing but he opted to turn inside and neglected his support.
Another tremendous run by S’au was also wasted soon after through lack of support.
Wakefield though were to end the game as they had begun with a two try salvo in the last six minutes, firstly with a try from Reece Lyne and then Johnstone went on to complete his hat-trick. Finn converted the first of these tries for a final score of 32-18.
This was another game that Salford let slip away.
They created numerous opportunities in the last 20 minutes that were wasted either through lack of support or by taking the wrong option.
Coach Watson observed later: “We gave them a bit of a start but once we got the game back within our grasp, we were probably the stronger team but just didn’t take the right decisions.
“We weren’t very smart with the ball, took a few wrong options and that’s cost us at the end of the day.”
Salford: O’Brien, J Griffin, Jones, S’au, Carney, Wood, Dobson, Murdoch-Masila, Tomkins, G Griffin, Forster, Sarsfield, Flanagan.
Subs: Evalds, A Walne, J Walne, Krasniqi.
Referee: Mr J Cobb
Attendance: 4,048
